Our Founder

The Reading Lodge was founded by Anne Boris, Ph.D., a licensed school psychologist, dyslexia specialist, and reading advocate with more than a decade of experience working with children who struggle to read. Anne co-founded Orton Academy, Colorado’s only tuition-free elementary school dedicated to students with reading-based learning differences, and has testified before the Colorado Legislature on reading curriculum reform. She holds an A.B. from Harvard University, an MBA from Northwestern/Kellogg, and a Ph.D. in School Psychology.

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Anne built The Reading Lodge because she knows what happens when children miss the early literacy window, and she wanted to build something that closes that gap before it opens.

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Our Educational Director

 

The Reading Lodge is led academically by Susan Whittaker, Ed.D., Education Director. Dr. Whittaker brings 17 years of experience in early childhood education spanning North America and England. She currently serves as a Field Supervisor at Niagara University, where she mentors student teachers, and has previously held roles as Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Early Childhood program. Her earlier career includes serving as Principal of Summit Academy in New York, supporting students with autism, and as Manager and Literacy Curriculum Coordinator at Arbourvale School in England.

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Dr. Whittaker is the Head of Research and Efficacy for North America and Trainer Consultant with Jolly Learning, UK. She possesses expertise in early literacy and structured reading instruction with a special emphasis on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) .  She leads Guide training and oversees curriculum delivery at The Reading Lodge, ensuring every experience is grounded in the Jolly Phonics methodology and delivered with the consistency, precision, and integrity with which it was designed.

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Our Curriculum Partnership

 

The Reading Lodge works directly with Jolly Learning Ltd., the UK-based publisher of the Jolly Phonics program, to ensure every element of our curriculum is delivered with precision and fidelity to the original methodology.

Our Guides are trained and certified by a Jolly Phonics Senior Trainer who maintains a direct relationship with Jolly Learning. This connection ensures that our instruction remains true to the program’s research-informed design, sequence, and instructional practices.

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At The Reading Lodge, fidelity is not an aspiration; it is a standard. Every session is thoughtfully delivered as Jolly Phonics was designed to be taught, giving every Explorer the benefit of an authentic, carefully implemented phonics experience.

 

 

Our Guides

 

 Every Guide at The Reading Lodge is trained and certified in the Jolly Phonics curriculum before leading a session with our Explorers. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of care, with background checks, child-safety protocols, and secure access procedures in place for every session.

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We understand the trust families place in us when they leave their child in our care. That responsibility is central to everything we do, and we are always happy to answer questions about our Guide screening, training, and safety standards.